A federal investigation has been launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The subject is an SUV. Jeep Grand Cherokees might have a design defect. There could be a lot of autos affected by the defect. About 3 million, in fact. The investigation was touched off by a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, over concerns of faulty and dangerous design of the popular SUVs. It is posited that Jeep Grand Cherokees, from more than 10 model years, have a defective fuel system that can pose a significant fire hazard.
Supposedly Jeep Grand Cherokee has awful design
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is being investigated. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched the inquiry, according to CNN. The 1993 to 2004 model years are being studied. The Center for Auto Safety says the design of the fuel tank poses a severe fire hazard. There are 172 crashes involving a fire, resulting in 254 deaths in Jeep Grand Cherokees. Chrysler responded, albeit somewhat cryptically. The business insists their autos meet all safety standards.
The alleged difficulty could be the gasoline tank
The defect in the Jeep Grand Cherokee may be the design of the plastic fuel tank. The tank is mounted just below the bumper, to the rear of the back axle. That’s where the risk lies, as outlined by the CAS. The organization, founded by Ralph Nader, insists the tank can rupture in rear end accidents and thus poses a fire danger. The NHTSA has identified 44 accidents, as outlined by ABC, where the fire caused more damage than the crash itself. There were also accidents where fire caused greater bodily harm than the crash. Of those, there were 55 fatalities. Fires were involved in 10 crashes and 13 deaths in rear ending accidents.
Pinto the follow up
Jeep has offered a skid plate as an option for the Grand Cherokee that covers the fuel tank, but only as an add-on for off-road driving. The 1999 model did just a little more. That’s when a brush guard was added. However, in 2005, the jeep grand Cherokee got a re-design. The tank was moved to the middle of the car. In a rear ending, both the affected Jeep Cherokee models and the Ford Pinto could possess the top of the gas tank sheared off, and catch fire.
Find more details on this subject
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/Blotter/jeep-grand-cherokee-abc-station-reported-gas-tank/story?id=11473270 and page=1
CNN Money
money.cnn.com/2010/08/24/autos/Jeep_Grand_Cherokee/index.htm
